FSL1 Fort Myers Mighty Mussels

Late Inning Rally Sparks 5-4 Comeback Win over Mets

July 5, 2015 - Florida State League (FSL1)
Fort Myers Mighty Mussels News Release


FORT MYERS, Fla. (July 5, 2015) - The Fort Myers Miracle scored three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning for a comeback win, 5-4, over the St. Lucie Mets at Hammond Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Trailing 4-2, the Miracle faced Mets reliever Robert Coles down by a pair of runs. Alex Swim led off with a line drive single that bounced out of first baseman Dominic Smith's glove for a single. Coles (2-2) then walked Mitch Garver and manager Jeff Smith brought in pinch-runner Tanner Vavra. Jason Kanzler's fly out to right field advanced Swim to third. Coles still had trouble finding the strike zone and issued a free pass to Ryan Walker.

With the bases loaded and one out, Marcus Knecht drove a 1-2 pitch into left center field for a single. Swim and Vavra scored to tie the game, 4-4. Walker advanced to third on the throw to the infield and Knecht to second. The Mets decided to intentionally walk Bryan Haar and load the bases. Chad Christensen dug in the box and Coles' first delivery bounced in the dirt and to the backstop. Walker raced home to put the Miracle up 5-4 with the eventual game-winner.

In the ninth, the Miracle went to reliever Nick Burdi. After striking out Stefan Sabol to start the frame, Burdi surrendered a single through the left side to Jeff Glenn. The Mets pinch ran Ahmed Rosario for Glenn at first. Then, on a 2-1 pitch, Champ Stuart sent a drive down the right field line. The ball bounced up and hit the foul pole above the wall and was ruled a ground rule double. Rosario, who would have scored on the play, was sent back to third base.

With the infield drawn to the edge of the grass, Yeixon Ruiz hit a chopper up the middle. Engelb Vielma snared the ball and stared down Rosario at third before retiring Ruiz. Burdi then got Jeff McNeil to fly out to center field and end the game for his first save with the Miracle this year.

The Miracle built a 2-0 lead early in the game on a pair of sacrifice flies against St. Lucie starter Mickey Jannis. In the first, Kanzler drove in Vielma with a fly out to right field. Two innings later, Walker brought in Swim from third with a sacrifice fly to left.

Kohl Stewart started for the Miracle and received a no decision. In seven innings, Stewart gave up three runs, two earned, on five hits with two walks and six strikeouts. The Mets tied the game against Stewart in the fourth on a two-run homer from Victor Cruzado.

In the seventh, the Mets took the lead by scoring a run without a hit. Cruzado led off with a walk against Stewart. Sabol then tried to lay down a sacrifice bunt. Stewart picked the ball up, but missed a tag attempt and made an error on a throw to first. With two on and no outs, Glenn put down a sacrifice to put two in scoring position. Stuart then hit a fly ball to left for a sacrifice fly and a Mets 3-2 lead.

Against Miracle reliever Brian Gilbert in the eighth, the Mets crossed home with another sac fly and no hits. Jairo Perez reached on a one-out error and moved to second when Gilbert (3-2) walked Dominic Smith. With Matt Oberste at the dish, Gilbert tossed a wild pitch to send runners to second and third. Oberste then flew out to right while Perez scored, 4-2.

Despite giving up the unearned run, Gilbert was the beneficiary of the Miracle comeback and picked up the win.

The Miracle (45-36, 7-4) have now won 10 consecutive games at Hammond Stadium and host the Mets (40-41, 5-6) for the final game of the series on Monday evening. Searching for the sweep, the Miracle open the gates at 6 p.m. for a 7:05 p.m. start time. For tickets, call (239) 768-4210 or order online at www.miraclebaseball.com.

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